Beliefs in Society Keywords

Animism: belief in ghosts or spirits Enlightenment: period associated with the 18th century when reason became to be seen as a guiding principle Functional definitions: attempting to explain the function of religion in society Ideology: set of ideas that legitimate the power of a particular group Profane: ordinary, unreligious aspects of life Sacred: regarded with awe and reverence Substantive definitions: attempting to explain what religion actually is Totems: objects such as animals or plant that are believed to have supernatural powers Anomie: a state of confusion and normlessness Civil religion: events or activities that involve ritualistic patterns and generate collective sentiments usually associated with established religions Collective conscience: beliefs and values shared by members of society that are essential for social order Communism: political philosophy originated by Marx that advocates common ownership and business Consensus: shared agreement on norms and values Conservative: supporting things staying as they are Ideological apparatus: agencies that transmit RCI to persuade subordinate groups that inequality is natural and normal Totemism: a primitive religion involving the worship or certain objects seen to have a widespread influence over tribal life Ascetic: self-denying Calvinists: 17th century Protestant sect based on the thinking of John Calvin Charismatic leader: leader with power and magnetic personality Fundamentalist religion: belief systems that argue the need to return to traditional values and practices Hegemony: dominance of the RC, manipulates beliefs causing WC to believe that it is societal norm Liberation theology: a fusion of Christianity and Marxism that has been influential in Central and South America Predestination: belief that an individuals' destiny is fixed before their birth Relative autonomy: degree of freedom that state institutions have from the direct control of the R/C Religiosity: importance of religion in a person's life Status quo: current state of affairs Theodicy: religious ideas that explain fundamental questions about the nature of existence Bureaucratic: centralised form of organisation run by official representatives

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Globalisation: process whereby social and economic activity spans many nations with little regard for national boarders Meta-narratives: `grand' explanations provided by religion, politics and science Monopoly of truth: view that only the viewpoint of the holder can be accepted as true Religious pluralism: where a verity of religions co-exists, all of which are considered to have equal validity Spiritual shoppers: postmodern idea that people consume religion in much the same way as any other product Holistic milieu: range of activities involving the mind, body and…read more

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Religious compensators: aspects of religion that provide temporary answers to fundamental queries about the nature of existence and satisfy universal needs Religious pluralism: where a variety of religious beliefs co-exists, all are considered to have equal validity Secularisation: process in society where religious beliefs and practices lose their social significance Secularisation thesis: belief in the declining influence of religion in society Vicarious religion: religious practices of a socially approved of minority who symbolically represent the religious adherence of the majority…read more